Costa Rica asks FIFA to order replay of World Cup qualifier won by US in Colorado snow

Costa Rica is asking soccer's governing body to order a replay of Friday's World Cup qualifier against the United States, won 1-0 by the Americans during a snowstorm in Commerce City, Colo.

Costa Rican Football Federation Treasurer Rolando Villalobos said in a statement Sunday that documentation had been sent to FIFA to back the claim, including photographs and videos.

The Costa Rican federation said the climatic conditions threatened the physical integrity of the players, left the sidelines and markings on the field largely not visible and led to the constant entry onto the field of snow-clearing personnel, which it said was not permitted.

The federation also argued that "ball movement became impossible given the quantity of snow on the field" and called for the punishment of the match officials who allowed the game to proceed.

During Friday's game, plows and shovels were used to clear the penalty areas, center circle and midfield stripe as snow got heavier, and a yellow-and-purple ball was used.